He called it quits from international cricket this year but Sri Lanka’s Chaminda Vaas remains an integral part of the Deccan Chargers’ bowling unit. The left-armer might have missed out during the Chargers’ first outing against Somerset CCC, but Vaas is excited to be part of the Bulls brigade.
Speaking on his international retirement, Vaas said, “You must know when to call it quits. It was important for me to make way for the youngsters in the team. And they are performing remarkably.”
When asked about his fitness levels since calling it a day, Vaas said, “I have been playing league games in Sri Lanka and that has kept me match fit and it is crucial. You just can’t walk into any form of the game without match fitness.”
Vaas is beaming with confidence when it comes to play for the Bulls. “It is quite exciting to be part of the Chargers unit. The best aspect of this team is that everyone wants to do well and we revel in each other’s success,” he said.
The Sri Lankan is quite confident of the Chargers show in the upcoming Champions League and pointed out that the conditions will play a key role in every team’s performances. “The conditions here will be different from what we have in other parts of the world. So, it will be interesting to see how the other teams adapt to that,” Vaas said.
Speaking about the cultural appreciation course that the Chargers had before the start of IPL-II, Vaas said, “It did wonders to the morale of the team. It broke the ice with the newcomers in the side. We all are one big family and this has helped us both on and off the field.”
On the bowlers to watch out for in the Champions League, Vaas picked up teammate Rudra Pratap Singh as his favourite.
“He (R.P. Singh) had a dream run in the IPL-II and has been amongst the wickets. If he gets the ball in the right areas, the batsmen could be in serious trouble. He is our trump card,” said the 111-Test veteran.
RP lived upto Vaas’ expectations picking three wickets for 23 runs in the Chargers’ first outing in the ongoing Champions League Twenty20 tournament.